High Blood Pressure: Risks and How to Manage It

Today, high blood pressure in both men and women is a very serious problem. About one in three American adults have high blood pressure and some have it for years without even realizing it. Having high blood pressure is also known as hypertension. Many others are at risk of developing it and approximately half of all Americans over the age of 60 have high blood pressure.

Blood pressure tends to increase with age and high blood pressure becomes more common after the age of 45, although it can occur at an earlier age. African-Americans have a higher tendency to develop hypertension at an earlier age and can also have more severe cases of hypertension. The risk of high blood pressure increases if there is a family history of it or if you are overweight. The good news is that high blood pressure is not inevitable, there are a number of things you can do to help prevent, delay, and treat it.

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure or hypertension refers to a condition in which blood exerts a higher-than-normal force on the artery walls. Many people can have high blood pressure levels without any warning signs which is one of the most dangerous aspects of this health problem. The more pressure put on artery walls, the greater the chance of damage occurring to these blood vessels as well as the organs in the body. The higher the blood pressure and the longer it remains untreated, the more severe the damage will be.

The health risks of uncontrolled blood pressure can cause heart attacks, strokes, aneurysms, kidney damage, vision loss, metabolic syndrome, memory loss, and dementia. Some of these health problems can be fatal.

What are the dangers of low blood pressure?

Hypotension, or low blood pressure, may seem like a safe condition, but it can also be harmful. Low blood pressure can prevent blood from reaching vital organs. Low blood pressure can occur for a variety of reasons, including thyroid dysfunction, adrenal gland issues, or anemia. By treating the cause, the problem is usually resolved, and blood pressure is returned to a normal range.

How do you understand blood pressure readings?

Normally, a blood pressure reading includes two numbers: the upper number is the systolic number, and the lower number is the diastolic number. When the blood pressure reading is less than systolic number 120 and diastolic number 80, it is considered normal. And when blood pressure reading is between systolic number 120 and 129 and less than diastolic number 80, it is considered elevated.

In hypertension stage 1, the systolic and diastolic numbers are between 130 and 139 and 80 to 89, respectively. For hypertension stage 2, the systolic and diastolic numbers would be 140 or higher and 90 or higher, respectively. When a systolic number exceeds 180, and a diastolic number exceeds 120, a hypertensive crisis occurs.

Why does knowing your blood pressure matter?

It is important to know your blood pressure since high blood pressure is considered a silent killer. If you have high blood pressure, the longer high blood pressure persists, the more damage is likely to occur. When a patient has elevated blood pressure, they can receive treatment. Sometimes, a change in lifestyle can bring the blood pressure down as well.

How to manage blood pressure?

In many cases, high blood pressure can be managed without medication. There are many things that can affect your blood pressure and sometimes simply making a few lifestyle changes can make a huge impact on your overall heart health. Keeping your blood pressure within a good range is not just about eating a healthy diet, it is also very important to exercise regularly, even if it is as simple as going for a walk everyday. Other factors can affect your heart health such as smoking, high consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and high stress.  In these cases, a doctor may have to offer additional treatment options if these lifestyle changes are not enough to lower blood pressure.

Conclusion

It is important to control your blood pressure as part of a healthy lifestyle and lifelong endeavor. It is true that high blood pressure can damage your internal organs without being symptomatic until serious damage has already been done. If you are proactive and take control of your health, it can help you combat the silent killer.